Breathe easier in lockdown with live advice from a respiratory expert
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The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ (ARFNZ) is launching its Breathe Better September awareness and fundraising
month in an exclusive Facebook Live session with a renowned breathing expert.
Dr Tania Clifton-Smith is a breathing physiotherapist with over 30 years of experience. She will be running a Facebook
Live session on ARFNZ’s Facebook at 7pm tomorrow (Wednesday 1 September). Tania will talk about COVID-19, and will
suggest some useful breathing exercises for energy and anxiety management at this stressful time. She will also answer
questions asked by viewers during the session.
"I’m so pleased to be connecting with the respiratory community at this challenging time," says Tania. "With COVID at
the forefront of all our minds once again, it has never been more important to look after your respiratory health. I’m
looking forward to sharing some practical, easy-to-follow advice that should be helpful for people with respiratory
conditions and also for the wider community.
"Breathing might seem simple, but it turns out that many of us are doing it wrong, and when it’s corrected it can be
life changing. I’ve been helping people to correct their breathing patterns for over 30 years and have seen first-hand
what a difference it makes."
"We’re delighted to have Tania running this session and offering live support to our community during lockdown," says
ARFNZ Chief Executive Letitia Harding. "It’s a fantastic way to launch Breathe Better September, which is all about
raising awareness and funds for people living with asthma and other respiratory conditions. Empowering people with good
information about how to breathe well is an important part of our mission."
Over 100 people have signed up to complete challenges during Breathe Better September, and there has been a surge in
registrations since New Zealand went into Level 4 lockdown. "Runs and walks in your local area are a great way to stay
fit and raise funds at the same time," says Letitia.
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world, with 1 in 7 children and 1 in 8 adults living with the
condition. Breathe Better September is a fun way to help raise the national profile of respiratory health in New Zealand
and encourage better breathing.
The money raised contributes to the work the Foundation does to support the 700,000 Kiwis living with asthma and other
respiratory diseases. The Foundation supports health professionals with resources that help people living with these
conditions better manage their respiratory health. They also run asthma educational shows in schools with the
ever-popular Sailor the Pufferfish, in both te reo Māori and English. The Foundation advocates for better lung health
for all New Zealanders, by ensuring they are on top of pivotal legislative changes that can affect respiratory health
outcomes.
To find out more, sign up or donate, visit: www.breathebetterseptember.co.nz
For Tania’s Facebook Live event, head to facebook.com/asthmaandrespiratoryfoundation